The Doomsday Scales of Goodness

“By God’s goodness, not ours,

can we be forgiven.”

How do you generally view yourself? A good person? I think most people would. We see that in autobiographies. They typically feature the good things people want to write about themselves. One wants to share their successes, not their failures. It is seen in obituaries too. At the end of life, they are usually written to cover the positive things about a person. (Photo from Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash)

How would you determine if you are good? Most likely you would do a scan over your life to find the good things you have done. Then afterwards, you would see if you found enough to call yourself good.

How does God determine this? Does He use the same method we would? If so, that would presume the existence of the “doomsday scales of goodness.” Meaning, after we die, we would be taken before God’s throne for our life to be examined. Next to Him would be sitting a large set of intimidating scales. Then after doing a thorough review of our life, He would place on one side, the good things we have done. Then on the other side, the bad we have done. All the while, we would be watching in fear and trembling. As God would place every good and bad thing we have done on the scales, it would tip one way, then the other. Back and forth it would go. Our eternal fate would be determined by the last thing He places on the scales. Would there be enough good to outweigh the bad?

Fortunately, there are no doomsday moral scales, so such a scenario would never happen. However, do we live as if there were?

Jesus had opponents to His message, who lived this way. They solely focused on the outward things of life, hoping in the end, it would be enough. They were Israel’s religious leaders who were careful to meticulously keep all their religion’s rules. After years of their continual attacks, Jesus publicly confronted them with the truth, “For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.” (Matthew 23:25-26)

These were tough words, but accurate. What was Jesus saying? The leaders were so focused on keeping their religious rules (the outside of the cup), that they neglected the condition of their heart (the inside of the cup). This revealed a dangerous misunderstanding. The leaders presumed their outward efforts would be enough. They assumed God would take to account all the good they have done, and it would be sufficient. They believed He would forgive all the bad things they had done, and overlook the condition of their heart, simply based on the amount of good they did.   

This reveals a common human problem. All of us tend to view ourselves this way. A Proverb says, “There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.” (Proverbs 30:12) And Jesus said, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.” (Luke 16:15)

God’s view of our lives is completely different. Before God we are unclean, dirty, sinful, having a lawless and wicked heart. There is no good in any of us. There is nothing we can do to forgive our sins. We are lost and without hope – but for Jesus.

This is why He came to die on a cross and rise again. Because there is no good in us, but there is in Him! He is the Perfect One! The Holy One! The Marvelous One! We cannot save ourselves because we are dirty inside. But Jesus, the Son of God, is without sin and can save us. By His goodness, not ours, can we be forgiven. Do not trust in yourself anymore, but trust fully in Christ alone.    

A prayer for you – Lord God, open our eyes to the true condition of our soul. Let us see that we are not good enough. Let us not be deceived, but acknowledge that only you can save us. You, the Sinless One, can deliver us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Compassion, Justice and Truth in Immigration

Serena Repice Lentini on Unsplash

“As the ‘tired, poor and huddled masses’ seek a better life in America, let us be like Jesus and weave together compassion, justice and truth.”   

Emma Lazarus authored the poem, “The New Colossus,” which is emblazoned on a plaque beneath the Statue of Liberty. Part of it reads, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
 
The words were fitting for the immigrants who came to Ellis Island, near Lady Liberty, to begin their journey toward citizenship in America and the new opportunities it afforded them.  
 
The poem reflects the Christian ethic America was founded upon. One that welcomes strangers and helps the poor and needy. Jesus once said, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…” (Matthew 25:35)
 
It has been said many times, that our country’s history reveals how America is a nation of immigrants. Therefore, we continue to welcome those who come here to seek a better life.    
 
Jesus’ family once had to flee their homeland. While still a baby, his parents escaped to Egypt from Israel. The family left quickly in order to protect Jesus from certain death, due to an order from King Herod to slaughter all baby boys two years old and younger, in the town of Bethlehem.  
 
Americans remember our history and the life of Jesus, when it comes to welcoming immigrants in our communities or at our borders; we strive to emulate the compassion of Christ.
 
But what about the justice of Christ?
 
Jesus had tax collectors’ approach one of his disciples and asked about the payment of a tax. Jesus commented on some injustice he saw in the tax, then said, “However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” (Matt. 17:27)
 
On other occasions, after Jesus healed people, He often gave them instructions in order to be in compliance with religious laws. We learn from Jesus, that though He was compassionate, He also subjected Himself to laws and commanded others to do likewise. We can reason this example in His parents, when they fled from Israel to Egypt, then back again; they did so lawfully.
 
Like Jesus, we must welcome and serve the stranger among us who is in need. And while doing so, submit ourselves to our nation’s laws and teach those whom we serve, to do the same.
 
But what if our laws seem uncompassionate? Should we not enforce or blatantly disobey them? That was not the example of Jesus. He was compassionate, while still obeying the law.
 
And what about the truth of Christ?
 
After Jesus was confronted by His opponents, He turned and spoke truth to them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? (Matt. 15:3) His words were an offense, but necessary to help them.  
 
It is true, that many immigrants come to America for a better life. But it is equally true that some do not. There are immigrants who transport deadly fentanyl across the border, others engage in human trafficking and some are criminals entering with ill intentions.
 
As the “tired, poor and huddled masses” come to America, we must show compassion, promote justice and speak the truth in love – just like Jesus.    
 
How can we bring change into unjust situations? Preach a message of repentance and faith in Christ. And when people do, their hearts can be transformed, which can lead to change in different areas of society. Then like Jesus, we must submit ourselves to those in authority, while questioning unjust laws and policies, to bring them in alignment with God’s Word.   
 
A prayer for you – Lord God, we pray for churches and other organizations showing compassion to the immigrants coming to our border. We pray for our local and federal government as they are the arm of justice. In the midst of this, O God, bring the gospel! Change hearts, that souls would follow after your ways. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sunflowers and The Light of Jesus

Image by phfilipposarci from Pixabay

“I am the light of the world” - Jesus

The sunflower is the official flower of Kansas. It can reach upwards of 10 feet, with its bright yellow rounded flower standing atop of its long stem. A field of hundreds or thousands is a sight to behold. Aside from its stunning appearance, sunflowers have a unique feature that has been studied by many experts. First thing in the morning, the flower is facing the sun, then it follows the sun as it moves across the sky from east to west during the day.  

The sunflower is an illustration of the life-giving nature of light as its head follows the sun in the course of a day. It could not live without light, nor would any other plants, trees, bushes, animals or humans. Light is essential for our existence.

In the Bible, Jesus describes Himself, saying “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) What does this mean?

Jesus is the source of light. When He says, “I am the light…,” He is communicating how He is the eternally divine, self-existent source of light to the entire world. His source is Himself and He is not dependent on water, wind, nuclear fusion, gas, electricity or anything else. He IS THE LIGHT, which has both a physical and spiritual element to it.

Jesus was once praying on a mountain with some of His disciples. And as He was, something dramatic happened. The account says, “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” (Matthew 17:2) This was a physical manifestation of this supernatural light. It will one day fill the new heavens and new earth that is coming. The Bible predicts about the capital city of the new earth, saying “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light…” (Revelation 21:23)

Jesus’ light shines in the darkness. His blazing light goes wherever people are found. This is the purpose for which Jesus came, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46) The darkness He speaks of, is a moral one, where people live in lawless, immoral ways of the heart and life. Jesus came to penetrate this darkness with His radiant light. However, even though the light is before people they try to block it out, and build around themselves a disobedient life to remove any signs of light, like a walled room with no windows. Even so, Jesus’ light persists and is so strong, that it cannot be held back. The walls are not able to withstand heaven’s force, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) 

Though our world cannot turn off the light of Jesus, they can reject it. But when they do, it is to their own peril, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." (John 3:19-20) This is why people reject the most precious light of Jesus, they do not want to hear the truth.  

Jesus’ light opens the eyes of people. His light illuminates the mind, helping people to see the error of their ways, giving them ability to discern between right and wrong in their life, then persuading them to turn toward Christ with all their heart. 

Jesus’ light is life giving. As our earth’s sun provides life to the sunflower, and all living things, so does the light of Jesus. 

All people are born in spiritual darkness, and without life. They are among the living dead. However, when the light of Christ comes, it purges the darkness and brings new life. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray people would see Jesus as the light of the world. And when His light points out areas of failing, may they not block it out, but gratefully respond and walk in the life it gives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.